Westboro residents exchange ideas for state hospital land - Gate House

By Donna Boynton TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

April 12. 2014 10:52AM

Westboro residents exchange ideas for state hospital land

Westboro Town Clerk Wendy Mickel writes down ideas as residents brainstorm about the Westboro State Hospital property. (T&G Staff/PAUL KAPTEYN)

WESTBORO — More than 70 people gathered in the Westboro High School cafeteria this morning to brainstorm future redevelopment ideas for the Westboro State Hospital property.

The planning session, formally called a charrette, was led by John R. Mullin, professor of urban planning at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and the president of the Mullin Associates.

"What we have is a blank slate, and it is our job today as town officials to shut up and listen," said Selectman George Barrette. "It's a wonderful opportunity of the community to come together to discuss what they would like to see happen to the property."

Residents and business owners gathered around blank sheets of paper at cafeteria tables, starting by outlining the property's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

"This gives us a road map," Mr. Barrette said.

Mr. Mullin said charretts are becoming an increasingly popular tool for planning.

"We advertise it as a day of the people," Mr. Mullin said as the session began. "The first key thing is that when you do a charrette, you recognize that there is a basic knowledge in people and they are smart. Second, you find what the major concerns are now rather than town meeting at the end of the process."

In addition, Mr. Mullin said, the people who attend a charrette tend to invest themselves in the project, following it through the various phases and make up a well-versed contingent of residents who can speak to the project at town meeting. A side benefit, Mr. Mullin said, is that the town gets a new group of volunteers.

Mullin Associates will prepare a final report based on the ideas identified in charrette and present it to the town at a later date.

In October, town meeting voters approved the purchase of 93 acres of the Westboro State Hospital property. Under a deal reached with the state Department of Capital Asset Mangement and Maintenance, the town will purchase the property for $2.2 million. The state will finance the purchase over 10 years, and the town will pay the state up to 50 percent of the net proceeds of each parcel sold.